Bonn Lecture Series: Planning for the Transformation of Power Systems

Two thirds of all CO2 emissions reductions from 2015–2050 will come from renewable energy, including wind and solar variable renewable energy (VRE). The integration of high shares VRE in electricity grids, namely wind and solar photovoltaics, is an issue still perceived as a challenge. Concerns involve ensuring the secure and reliable supply of power while integrating high shares of VRE under conventional planning, operation, and management of power systems (generation, distribution, transmission, consumption).

Lessons learnt from a number of leading countries have demonstrated that a rapid scale-up in the share of VRE can be achieved, when accompanied by appropriate planning, and technical, operational and regulatory measures. A holistic approach, with strong stakeholder engagement, reconciles two key goals of policy-makers, which were previously considered as contradictory: (1) to significantly increase the share of VRE to decarbonize the power system, and (2) to ensure the reliable power supply to consumers.

This lecture elaborated on key findings from recently published and upcoming IRENA publications on the transformation of the power sector transformation. The focus was on (1) planning long-term transition paths to high shares of VRE, (2) planning to overcome operational bottlenecks associated with high shares of VRE and (3) the role of storage in VRE power system integration.

You can watch the lecture in its entirety, below.